Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-02-18
THE Willis Case.
Conclusion of the Testimony in the
Judge Willis Case Unconstitution-
aIity Of the Lease Law Argued.
One Jurymsn Says the Trials were
More Like a Kangaroo Court than
COur: of Jastice.
The GeneraI Impression that this Parttes
Indie, ed In tho IGaIosurs Cases
Would DO Acquitted
Special to the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette
AUSTIN, TEX, Feb. fudge willis
WAS placed on the stand by his counsel
this morning. He said he knew OF go
statute where the judge could, of his
own motion, change the venue of mis-
dsmeanor cases.
District Attorney Woodman wss re-
called, and stated that he made no motion
to change the venue, nor did he insist on
the Imprisonment Of the defendants.
After he retired Judge Willis resumed;
When Woodman called up the remaining
unlawful Enclosure cases at the July
term OF 1856, called him to me and re-
quested him to dismiss them, because
there were no convictions at the January
term, and he could not possibly expect
conviction in the remaining cases. | felt
like saying to the jury from the
bench, "gentlemen, you will aCquit i'll
these cases because did rot expect any
convictions" WoOdman refused because
Attorney General TempletOn demanded
it. Knowing that the evidence was the
same | permitted Woodman to submit
several cases at one time to the Jury. |
consider Mr.. Woodman to be one of the
best prosecuting attorneysin the Panhan-
die, able to cope with the entire bar, and
that is the reason | think that the Stock
Association paid him bonus to take the
office. | have been District Judge six
years, and during that time no man has
ever approached me about his case. No
juror, lawyer or defendant talked to Inc
about the land Enclosure cases.
desire to correct the impression that |
talked with the clerk about reading the
Brown verdict guilty to see him scared.
say emphatically that l had nc such
kcOnversation. | never had any watch
4 given me by Goodnight, or any one at
! tempt to offer me one. | scarcely know
Mr.. Nelson. | have seen more of him
since | came down mere. dia not think
MIR. Browning would represent Mr. Mel
son without being employed by him. l
never did know whether Mr.. Nelson was
there or not. l did not give it a thought
about his being tried in his absence. If
:. WOodman says that l cut the cards for
man that was out Of luck when l
passed through the saloon where
they were gaming | expect that
II did, although | don't now
remember it. No respectable man will
come up and say that l associate with
gamblers. l always associate with the
best people in my district if l do 20 into
the front door of saloons and take drink
when | want to. l don't think because |
am District Judge that l am required to
put on a long face and snub other people,
even gamblers. Mr.. Browning is not
friend Of mine. He used letters from the
Attorney-General against me in my cleo
ton. | have heard that he wanted the
nffipa pf District TuHOn 7
came to Austin | had q talk with Mr..
Browning as the representative of the
Panhandle, asking him to explain this
matter He said he would
have nothing to 90 with it.
that he was neutral. lie had several i'm
pOrtart measures to bring before the
House, and did not intend to prejudice
them by espousing my cause. IL WAS
then when | thought that my Rrepresen-
tatives and Senator's bad gone p OK on
me, would be slaughtered, that de-
termined to resign, but afterward deter
mined to die first. Fir. Browning signed
q paper VindiCatng me since | came here,
with the understanding that l would re-
sign.
This paper was offered in the evidence
by Judge Willis counsel and was read to
the committee. Its substance has air, ady
been published in The GAZETTE in con-
nection with Mr.. Brownlne's explanation
of the circumstances surrounding it.
Judge Willis acknowledged that
he wrote the vindication himself
and he got Mr. Wocdmau, Mr..
Brown and Mr.. Browning to sign
it. Both Goodnight and Nelson request
ed me not to resign, and said it was as
mucn their fight as 1t was mine, bu: they
have not done anything for Me that any
other honest man ought not to do. |
have had very little conversation about
1t. Senator Houston and Representative
Browning said they would have nothing
to do with it, ard would ask to be ex-
cused from voting. All the lawyers in
my district except two are my enemies.
| knew that the acquital of the unlawful
inclOsure case would cut the
state out of $4,000 to $4,000
lease msney, that the District At
tolney and sheriffs were receiv-
ing bonuses or salaries from the cattle
men, and that one foreman sat on nineteen
or twenty juries, but did not think they
were putting up job on me and l don't
think l had any right to stop the pro-
ceedings in the court. Judge Willis said
this in answer to Attorney General Hogg's
questions: | thought all the lawyers were
honorable men. I know no law that
would allow me to stop the trials or any
law preventing district attorneys from re-
ceiving bonus or salary.
Attorney-General Hogg then introduced
several witnesses in rebuttal. Frank
Copeland had lived in the Panhandle for
ten years. He was a iuryman on one of
G. A. Browns cases. l was waited on by
j. H White before l was summoned
and asked how l felt about these
cases. l told him if l was
on the jury would decide according to
the law and the evidence. l never sat on
bu: one jury. 1t was out long time.
did not consider it fair and honest
verdict. The foundation of the verdict
was on the Judges verbal charge ques-
| tioning the constitutionality OF the law
and the tender by the cattlemen of
cents per acre lesse money. There were
eleven against me on the ury and the
majority Of them cowboys, and from
| their actions saw that i wss 70. safe to